The Ottomans artillery continuously fired, targeting the Burgundian army. Philip's troops endured constant bombardment, and their front line gradually began to falter under the Ottomans assault.
Meanwhile, at the northernmost end of the battlefield, below Frankenhöhe, Mahmud had already led his army around the Wagenburg. Over twenty thousand Ottoman infantry and six thousand elite cavalry, who had not yet engaged in battle, began to assault the Wagenburg from the flank.
His efforts were destined to fail. Vlad, leading the Wallachian cavalry, held back the Ottomans cavalry from the flank, and a fierce battle erupted there as well.
Adolf commanded the infantry within the Wagenburg to move to the side, forming dense pike squares. The cavalry charged from the other end of the Wagenburg, circling the entire Wagenburg, and appearing on the Ottoman army's retreat path back to the high ground.
Seeing that they could not break through the defensive line formed by the Austria army, the Ottomans regrouped. Their archers began to fire arrows at the Austria army's squares. Adolf immediately ordered the crossbowmen in the Wagenburg to the front line to return fire against the Ottomans.
Arrows flew back and forth between the two sides, causing significant casualties for both.
Adolf sought out Gunter and said to him, "I heard that when you were called the Double-Pay Mercenaries, your most acclaimed quality was your powerful assault capability. Breaking through enemy lines shouldn't be difficult for elite warriors like you, should it?"
"Of course!" Gunter replied proudly, "Not just anyone can earn double pay. We are the best infantry."
"Very well, I want you to lead your Independent Army to assault the enemy. I have fully confirmed that they are the Rumelia Corps, which suffered a devastating defeat not long ago. This army is now greatly weakened, and many of their infantry are temporarily recruited able-bodied men, not very strong in combat. While the Wallachians are holding back their cavalry, we must utterly defeat these Ottomans in one fell swoop!"
Adolf's eyes gleamed. Although he excelled at defense, he also knew how to seize fleeting opportunities for victory.
Gunter hesitated. He himself had long wanted to lead his brothers to crush the hateful Ottomans, but acting without the Emperor's direct orders…
"No need to hesitate. His Majesty has just sent a messenger, allowing me to decide whether to attack on my own."
Adolf said this, but his gaze subtly flickered towards the direction of the main army.
"Yes!" Gunter no longer hesitated, he regrouped his forces and launched a fierce attack against the Ottomans.
In the second line of the main army, Laszlo Hunyadi came before the Emperor for the countless time to report on the battle: "Your Majesty, Grand Duke Philip requests reinforcements."
"Have the Janissaries joined the battle yet?"
"Not yet, Your Majesty."
"Then let him hold on. It's not time yet!"
"Yes."
"Anything else?"
"Marshal Adolf has confirmed that the troops on the high ground are the Rumelia Corps. He requests permission to attack."
Laszlo frowned slightly. Janos had actually guessed correctly, which meant he was now facing the formidable Anatolia Corps…
"Granted. Also, how is the situation with your father?"
"Your Majesty, my father has advanced too far, and we can no longer receive messages from him, but scouts have observed a large-scale rout among the Ottomans."
A hint of worry flashed in Laszlo Hunyadi's eyes, but his expression was filled with pride.
His father had defeated the main Ottomans army and was now slaughtering those infidels. He wished he could immediately join his father and fight alongside him—just like in the Battle of Belgrade.
"Send out all your scouts. You must precisely locate Janos and have him return to reinforce the main army in time." Laszlo gave a strict order. He was truly a bit worried that Janos might pursue too far and encounter an ambush or some other unexpected situation.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Messengers traveled back and forth between different parts of the battlefield. The best scouts among Laszlo's personal cavalry were dispatched to the left flank to find Janos.
Laszlo's worries unfortunately became reality.
After pursuing the Ottomans for a distance, Janos regrouped his army and began to advance towards the center of the battlefield. If all went as expected, he would emerge from the Ottomans's right rear, and together with the Burgundy army, sandwich the Ottomans.
It was on this path that an army very familiar to Janos blocked his way.
Their equipment was nothing short of luxurious.
Most warriors wore heavy chainmail, a type of mail armor made of countless fine metal rings interlocked, effectively resisting slashes from swords and impacts from arrows.
Over their chainmail, they also wore magnificent black robes embroidered with the Ottoman Empire's emblem, signifying their special status and honor.
They wore distinctive Janissaries flat-topped hats, adorned with lavish feathers and jewels.
Their faces were protected by metal visors, revealing only their eyes and noses.
These visors were designed to be menacing and terrifying, intended to intimidate their enemies.
They wielded sharp scimitars, their blades curved like a crescent moon, gleaming with a cold light, beautiful yet deadly.
Wide leather belts were fastened around their waists, from which daggers and short knives hung.
Many carried powerful composite bows on their backs, the bows made of tough wood and animal horn, with taut bowstrings, and quivers full of sharp arrows beside them.
These warriors were robust and muscular, with upright stances and steady, powerful strides. Every movement exuded an awe-inspiring aura.
This unit was undoubtedly the most elite among the Ottomans—the Janissaries Sultan's personal guards.
They blocked Janos's path back to the battlefield.
Janos turned his head and looked. He still had several thousand exhausted cavalry beside him. The main army on the Crusade's left flank had also gradually dispersed during the pursuit, some heading to the central battlefield, some small units wandering the battlefield scavenging for spoils, and many more warriors sacrificed in the previous brutal bloody battle.
"General, let's retreat for now," Szilágyi suggested. Their objective had been achieved; the Ottomans's Anatolia Corps was completely routed.
Now that the Janissaries were blocking their path, it would be better to avoid their sharp edge for the time being.
"We have done everything we needed to do. Now I cannot lead you to die in vain. Turn around, I need to regroup the troops."
Janos led his army to turn away from the battlefield. Many Ottomans had completely fled the battlefield, leaving behind a trail of corpses, and many Crusade soldiers were scavenging for "loot" from the bodies.
Upon seeing this, Janos quickly ordered men to dissuade them. He said to the soldiers scavenging for spoils: "The war isn't over, and you're already doing the work of vultures? Remember, you are God's warriors, do not abandon your courage and honor!"
Although somewhat regretful, the soldiers scavenging the corpses still heeded Janos's advice and returned to the ranks.
The Crusade's left flank forces were regrouped by Janos.
Janos led this army back to the battlefield. A part of the Janissaries had already entered the central battle, while the rest still held their ground by Lake Varna, guarding against a rear attack from the Crusade who had pushed through.
This time, Janos did not flinch. He led his regrouped forces to charge the Janissaries Corps without hesitation.
Those Ottoman master archers appeared incredibly calm in the face of such a massive charge. Under the command of their corps commander, they took down the powerful bows from their backs and began to unleash dense volleys of arrows at the Crusade.
Many Crusade warriors were struck by arrows and lost their lives before they even understood what had happened.
The heavily armored knights were not afraid of the rain of arrows, but their horses were specifically targeted by the Ottoman archers.
An arrow shot out, killing a knight's warhorse. He instantly fell from his horse, the immense impact twisting his neck and limbs, his body contorted into a strange and grotesque posture, and he lost his precious life in an instant.
There were also unlucky plate-armored knights who were pierced through the throat by an arrow.
The Janissaries' arrow rain caused a huge blow to the Crusade, but it had come to this point, and no one chose to retreat.
The distance between the two sides finally closed, and close-quarters hand-to-hand combat began.
The knights led by Janos plunged like a spearhead directly into the center of the Janissaries Corps, but they were quickly blocked by the heavy shield warriors. These robust men came from the Balkans; they were chosen as Sultan's personal guards from a young age, receiving training and education day after day. Their loyalty to the Sultan surpassed everything, and even blocking cavalry with their bare bodies was nothing to them.
The spearhead was broken, and the Janissaries quickly readjusted their formation, firmly blocking the subsequent Crusade from outside their lines. In the center of the formation, the several hundred cavalry led by Janos were completely surrounded, with Janissaries personal guards, wielding hammers, maces, and scimitars, eyeing them menacingly.
"It seems this is the end…" Janos thought to himself. To his own surprise, there was no sadness or excitement in his heart at this moment, only a slight regret.
But as soon as he thought that the Ottomans would be completely expelled, this small regret also vanished into thin air.